Questions we have been asked
Some of this information by courtesy of South African Tourism |
There are so many, I'm
sure we can all think off the things we love about South Africa. * Table Mountain in Cape Town is the most impressive
mountain in the world! It can be seen from 200 kilometers out to
sea. Not to mention the energy this magnificent mountain emanates! SA Tourism said on Wednesday that South Africa has been voted the best and most interesting African travel destination in an annual Dutch online travel survey....Was that not a nice feeling, knowing that we have all that, and more to be proud off. Answers How long is the travel time to South Africa? South Africa is served by more
than 70 international airlines and our national carrier, South African
Airways, flies to many destinations in Europe, North and South America,
Asia, Australia and New Zealand. So we are never more than a flight
away if you are on a major international air route. The flights
from Europe are generally overnight and just a sleep away - an aperitif,
dinner, sound sleep, and a good breakfast and you're in South Africa!
The direct flights between the USA and Johannesburg or Cape Town
are about 15 hours, and flights between London and Johannesburg
take about 12 hours. For more info, check out www.flysaa.com. When is the best time to visit South Africa? South Africa is a fabulous all
year-round destination so when you visit depends on what you would
like to do. The best time for game watching, for instance, is early
spring (August to October). The southern right whales can be seen
off our coasts from about mid-June to the end of October, and the
humpback whales from August to December. In Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces, activities are not quite as time-dependent but spring and autumn are best for hiking since summer can be very hot. If you want to lounge on the beaches, midsummer is the best time to do so, though bear in mind that everyone else will be there too. The beaches of KwaZulu-Natal are warm and sunny, even in midwinter. Many of the best areas to visit can be quite busy in peak season. For example, the coast tends to be a bit crowded around Christmas and New Year, when all the schools are on holiday, the universities are out and many local people take their annual leave. So, if you're looking for peace and quiet - this is not the time to visit. Another major peak is over Easter - when the schools are also on holiday and, once again, many people take their leave so they can spend holidays with their children. A major advantage of travelling out of peak season, of course, is availability of special out of season deals. South Africa enjoys a temperate and pleasant climate, with lovely warm sunny days most of the year. The seasons of the southern hemisphere are opposite to those in the northern hemisphere so our summers runs from November to February, when most of the country is characterised by hot weather with afternoon thunderstorms. Winters are generally mild and dry. South Africa enjoys one of the world's highest average daily hours of sunshine - 8.5 compared with 3.8 in London, 6.4 in Rome and 6.9 in New York. Average temperatures in ºC Summer Winter Can South Africa guarantee winter sun? Yes! South Africa experiences one of the highest numbers of "sunshine hours" per year of any country worldwide. What are the most popular choices of activity or itinerary, and why? First-time visitors generally spend a short stay in Johannesburg and Pretoria, Gauteng, where they can visit the world famous African township of Soweto and experience a truly cosmopolitan culture, bustling with an urban rhythm that can be found in the nightclubs, theatres, restaurants and people. Then they will head for the bush regions, such as the Kruger National Park, for a wildlife experience, and probably spend some time in the Western Cape, more specifically Cape Town and the fantastic Garden Route. How reliable is the infrastructure in your country? The infrastructure is very reliable and of a world class standard - except in some very remote rural areas, not frequented by tourists. The road network is superb and well maintained. In recent years major toll roads have opened, making driving long distance even easier. Accommodation establishments in South Africa are world class, so whether your client requires accommodation in a hotel, guesthouse or lodge, their needs will be satisfied. Does South Africa have big cities with modern amenities? There's more to Africa than lions. Johannesburg sprawls wider than London or New York. The lights work, the water flows, there are multi-lane highways and - unfortunately - traffic jams. You can book into a Hilton or a Hyatt or a Holiday Inn and eat at cosmopolitan restaurants serving anything from sushi to burgers to crocodile steaks. Or you can just lie back on a couch and choose from five analogue and 53 digital TV channels. How easy is it to meet and mix with South Africans from all communities? Very easy indeed. Most South Africans speak English, so it is easy to converse with people wherever you go. South Africans are generally open, friendly people who enjoy welcoming visitors. What about mobile phones and phoning home? South Africa's mobile phone operators utilise the GSM system so if your phone is GSM compatible, set up international roaming with your service provider before you leave home. Alternatively, you can rent a phone at the airport on arrival, and use a "pay-as-you-go" (which means exactly what it says) card during your stay. Fixed line telephones are reliable and dial abroad. The country's telecommunications operator Telkom, is the 28th largest in the world, and accounts for 39% of the phone lines on the African continent. Over a dozen years ago, South Africa was known for "apartheid" or white-minority rule. But the country's remarkable ability to put centuries of racial hatred behind it in favour of reconciliation was widely considered a social "miracle" and inspired similar peace attempts elsewhere, such as Northern Ireland and Rwanda. These days, post-apartheid South Africa has a government comprising all races, and is better known as the "rainbow nation", a phrase coined by Nobel Peace Prize winner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu. You can use Visa and Mastercard almost everywhere, and bank by ATM or online. There's a sophisticated financial sector, abreast of all the latest technological trends. There are 13 commercial and merchant banks, and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange is the world's 15th largest in terms of market capitalisation. A long, long way. With the exchange rate in your favour, you'll find South Africa a very inexpensive destination. The animals alone are reason to visit. One of the world's first wildlife conservation areas was South Africa's Kruger Park, more than a century old. Today it is just one part of a single broad conservation area that spans private and public game parks, and even stretches across national borders into neighbouring Mozambique and Zimbabwe. An hour's drive from such urban jungles as Pretoria and Johannesburg, you can see lions, elephants, buffalo and hundreds more species in their natural environments. South Africa is also a bird watcher's - paradise. Maybe. Many reserves have all the big five - lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo - but it's not that easy to see them all, particularly leopard. Leopards are nocturnal, secretive and well camouflaged, but there are some reserves where they are easily spotted. However, just being in the bush, seeing tiny animals like ants and frogs and learning the relationship between them, can be even more exciting than a procession of lions and elephants. So, even if you miss out on one or two of the big guys, you'll still have a great time. What is the difference between the National Parks and the Private Reserves? The national parks are administered by South
African National Parks which ensures a standardised level of accommodation
and facilities. Where can I see game in a malaria-free area? The Eastern Cape, the Western Cape, the Northern Cape, parts of the Northwest Province and the Waterberg area of Limpopo province are free of malaria. Of these, the best game viewing is Addo in the Eastern Cape, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the Northern Cape, Madikwe and Pilanesberg in the Northwest, and Limpopo's Waterberg. Can I visit a game park on my own? Yes, absolutely. South African National Parks have designed all their parks to cater for the independent traveller, so you can drive in, set up home in your rented chalet, and drive yourself around. However, you may get more out of your stay if you opt to do one or two escorted drives. |